High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a substance that is found in the fat cells in your blood, also known as lipids. The body requires a reasonable amount of cholesterol, but if it gets too high a person can run the risk of acquiring high cholesterol, therefore increasing the risk of heart disease.

When cholesterol enters an unhealthy range, the body is developing fatty deposits in the blood vessels making it difficult for enough blood to flow through the arteries. As a result of the deposit build-up, the heart does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood to properly function. The decreased oxygen-rich blood to the heart increases a person’s risk of a heart attack, and the decreased oxygen to the brain increases the risk of a stroke. High Cholesterol can be inherited, but it is greatly the result of unhealthy lifestyle choices.

Causes and Symptoms

Most causes of high cholesterol stem from factors within a person’s control.Most causes of high cholesterol stem from factors within a person’s control. Factors such as inactivity, obesity, or an unhealthy diet can increase the risk. Although, these factors contribute to an even larger issue of different types of high cholesterol based on what type of cholesterol a body’s lipoproteins carry. There are no symptoms to “warn” a person of high cholesterol. Only a blood test can determine whether or not a person is at risk. The two types of high cholesterol are categorized as:

Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) – LDL or “bad” cholesterol carries cholesterol particles throughout the body. This type of cholesterol builds up in the walls of the arteries, causing them to be hard and narrow.

High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) – HDL or “good” cholesterol picks up the excess cholesterol and takes it back to a person’s liver.

What Can You Do To Prevent It?

Have a healthy diet

Exercise regularly

Quit smoking

Decrease your body mass index (BMI)

Although, if the new lifestyle changes are not lowering cholesterol then your doctor may opt to prescribe medication to help. Some medications that can be prescribed in this instance are:

Statins

Bile-acid-binding resins

Cholesterol absorption inhibitors

Injectible medications

If you feel that you might have high cholesterol, or would like a blood test to check, schedule an appointment today.